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To adopt the City of Richmond’s Emergency Operations Plan in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law of 2000.
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WHEREAS, section 44-146.19(E) of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, requires the City of Richmond to conduct a comprehensive review and revision of its emergency operations plan every four years to ensure that the plan remains current; and
WHEREAS, section 44-146.19(E) of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, requires that the City Council formally adopt the City’s emergency operations plan, as revised, every four years; and
WHEREAS, on July 25, 2022, by Resolution No. 2022-R043, the City Council formally adopted the City’s emergency operations plan;
WHEREAS, the Council believes that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Richmond that the Council adopt the City’s updated emergency operations plan as section 44-146.19(E) of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, provides;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the City of Richmond’s Emergency Operations Plan, dated July 2026, a copy of which is attached to this resolution, is hereby adopted in accordance with section 44-146.19(E) of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.
DATE: 5/27/2026 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Al Wiggins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Operations
THROUGH: Stephen M. Willoughby, Director, Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response
FROM: Jonathan Fetterman, Senior Manager, Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response
RE: Adopt the City of Richmond’s Emergency Operations Plan
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: This resolution is to promulgate the adoption of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) by City Council.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law (Virginia Code section 44-146.19(E)) requires each locality to conduct a comprehensive review and revision of its EOP every four years to ensure the plan remains current, and the plan must be formally adopted by the locality’s governing body. City Council formally adopted the City’s emergency operations plan on July 25, 2022 through Resolution No. 2022-R043. Throughout 2025 and 2026, EOP development occurred utilizing numerous internal and external stakeholders to ensure input was received and drove the development of this EOP. This is critical because no single department, agency, or organization possesses all the authorities, resources, and expertise or operational perspectives required to manage a complex emergency. Effective emergency management depends on coordinated, whole-community planning that reflects how disasters actually unfold in real life.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The EOP was developed using external partners to include but not limited to: FEMA (guidance, support and policy), VDEM, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Goochland County, Powhatan County, Henrico HAZMAT team, Virginia Department of Health/RHHD, VCU, GRTC, RBHA, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Richmond CERT, Dominion Energy, Port of Richmond, Federal Reserve of Richmond
STRATEGIC INITATIVES ALIGNMENT: MAP: Thriving Neighborhoods Goal D: Keep our neighborhoods safe and prepared.
FISCAL IMPACT: The is no fiscal impact to the adoption of the EOP.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: July 27, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 14, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Organizational Development
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Res. 2022-R043
ATTACHMENTS: City of Richmond Emergency Operation Plan
STAFF: Ed Porner 646-6287; Jonathan Fetterman 646-1340